Gate latch



P 1950v w. F. ROSEBURROUJ'GH 2,523,845

GATE LATCH L Filed NOV. 13, 1946 Patented Sept. 26, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GATE LATCH Walter Francis Roseburrough, Newton, Iowa Application November 13,1946, Serial No. 709,588

not be released by engaging and raising the latch member.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a gate latch constructed and operable in such a manner that it can not be easily opened by children or trained farm animals.

Other objects are sturdiness and economy of construction, eiiiciency of operation and suitability for securingthe various types of horizontally hinged closure members.

With these objects in view, as well as other objects, which will appear during the course of the specification, reference will be had to the drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a gate latch mounted on a gate structure, shown secured in solid lines and released in dotted lines, and embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the latch bar.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the latch bar shown in the securing position.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the latch member in the released position.

Throughout the several views like reference characters refer to similar parts and the numeral I designates a latch assembly having a base plate l2 provided with corner opening !4 adapted to receive screws !6 by means of which the plate is secured to the stile of a hinged gate l8. The latch bar 29 is pivoted by means of shouldered rivet 22 to plate !2 and has a notch 24 at its outer free end to engage one leg 25 of a staple 2B which is securely anchored in a stationary fence member 30 adjacent the opening which the gate is adapted to close. The extremity of the latch passes through the staple 28 as clearly shown.

The upper inner portion of latch 20 is arcuate at 32 while the lower portion is diagonally formed to present an outwardly projecting tongue 34 disposed below the axis of rotation of the latch.

Referring to Figure 2 it will be noted that a cam member 38 is pivotally mounted by shouldered rivet 38 to the base plate [2 for limited rotation. The latch 20 is normally positioned to the horizontal when in the latched position, and the axis of rotation is in substantially horizontal 5 Claims. (01. 292-108) 2 relation with the upper edge of 20. The periphery 4B of the cam is circular for about 270 and fits snugly into the arcuate recess 32 of latch bar 20 to secure the latch against movement on its axis so long as the arcuate parts are in operative relation.

A substantially radially disposed boss 42 extends outwardly from the circular periphery 46 to form a, stop to rest against the upper side of bar 20 thereby limiting the rotation of the cam in one direction. The periphery of the cam is recessed at 44 intermediate boss 42' and the circular cam section 40, for reasons hereinafter set forth.

An operating arm 46 is welded or otherwise securely attached to the outer surface of cam member whereby the cam is manually rotated to release and raise the latch arm Zil. Arm as is offset outwardly at 48 whereby the hand gripping portion of said arm is spaced outwardly from the latch 20 and the post 3!! a sufiicient distance to permit free action of the arm.

When the latch means is in the position shown in solid lines in Figure 1, the latch bar 20 is secured against pivotal movement on the shoulder rivet 22 by the circular cam face which snugly fits into the annular recess 32 formed in the end portion of bar 29 above the pivotal axis.

In order to operate this latch it is necessary that the operator grasp the operating arm 46, ro-

tate it upwardly and about the pivotal member 38 until it extends downwardly as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. As arm 46 approaches the downward position, the radially disposed boss 6?. will contact the surface of the projecting tongue 34 to exert a pressure below the pivotal point 44. The weight of the arm 46 is not sufficient to lift bar 2!] so that the end of the stroke must be completed by means of the force exerted by the operator. When force is thus exerted the parts will take the position shown in Figure 4 with the bar 29 raised from the securing sta le 2B, and the arcuate portion of bar 2i! extended into the recess 44 formed in the body of the cam member 36. These parts will remain in this position only so long as the operator exerts the pressure against the bar 20. When he releases his hold the bar will drop back to the latching position with the arm 46 slightly inclined outwardly from the vertical.

This more or less complicated operation of the latch bar makes it almost impossible for the farm animal to dislodge the latching bar from the staple and if for an instant it is caused to take the position shown in Figure 4, it will immediately return to the latching position when the animal releases pressure against the cam parts.

This gate latch also precludes to a large degree the possibility of small children opening the gate, not only because the operation is quite complex, but because the force required to lift the latch bar is diflicult for a child to exert.

It is quite apparent that this latching mechanism may be easily applied to fence gates, barn doors,- --ietc. jIn'fa'ct, it is well adapted ioruse with "substantially any horizontally 'swingable closure member.

While it is contemplated to use the latching means with the latch bar 20 normally in the horizontal position; however, in some instances, it might be advisable to inclinethe barby-mounting the base member diagonally on-ithegatestile. :Instances requiring this type of mounting would'be in cases where hogs might lift the gate on its hinges, thus raising ,the latch from the staple. .However, :if the, latch slot :24..is properly inclined,

:it'will strikethe staple 'and preclude its removal therefrom.

What I- claim'as new and "desire :toprotect b Letters .Patent is:

1. A gate latch comprising a base plate, a latch vbar pivoted -tosaid :base plate :and having its free-end portion adapted to engage a -keeper,: an arcuate cam :pivoted to said base plate and nor- .mally operable.throughitsmajor are ofimovement to engage :a notchdnsaidlatch member tosecure .saidlatch member againstpivotal; movement, and 1a :bosswarried by said zcam and operable during the end portion of its stroke to pivot said elatch I-bar,:and operable to limit the -movementlzof said :camin the opposite direction.

2. A rgate latch-comprising aibase plate, azlatch char pivoted to-isaid-ibase plateo'anid having 'an'end portion adapted-t engage a. keeper,..a cam pivoted *torsaid ibase-plate tomove lthroughthe-maj or are 'Of a--circle, and .:having -.means engageable with said latchbar to maintain the baragainst pivotal .movement, and also having ai'projectingifinger Jfor engagingandraising said latch bar:from .-said keeper during' theifinal end travel of its stroke and for limiting 1 the pivotal movement of said \cam :in' the opposite direction.

A-gate l-atch comprising a'base plate, :alatch 'barpivoted'to said-base plate and having'a free -'end portion'adapted to-engage a keeper-whereby therg-ate is securely closed a cam pivoted to said :base plate and movable through .more than a :semicircle 7 without releasing said latch bar from said keeper, and having 'a finger to-engageand iraisesaid latch barfromengagement with=said keeper and to limit the pivoting of said cam in the opposite direction.

4. A gate latch comprising a base, a latch bar pivoted to said base plate and having a free end portion adapted to engage a fixed keeper whereby the gate is secured against opening, a cam pivoted to said base plate and having an arcuate edge adapted to engage and secure said latch bar in the keeper engaging position as the cam is rotated through more than ,and a radially disposed boss integral with said cam adapted to rest on top of said latch bar to limit the pivoting of the cam in one direction and adapted to engage the lower portion of said latch bar to raise the bar from engagement with said keeper.

5. A gatelatch comprising a base plate adapted .tobe securedto the stile of a gate, a normally horizontally disposed latch bar pivoted adjacent one end for vertical movement to said base plate and being adapted to engage at its free end a fixedkeeper secured to the gate to secure said agate closed, said latch bar being normally retained ,in engagement with said keeper by gravity, said latch bar being formed topresent an arcuate rnotch disposed above said latch bar pivot,a substantiall circular cam pivoted to said .base plate concentrically with the normal position of said latch bar notch and adapted to enter said notch to lock said latch bar against movement, said cam having a singlenotchvin its periphery which when disposed by pivoting said camppposite said latch. bar notch; permits the pivotal movement of said .latchbar, anda single boss .carried by .said cam. and adapted when said .camisturnedin one direction .to ,contact :said latch bar to limit the movement-of said cam, and adapted when turned in the opposite direction to .contact .theend of ,saidilatch bar. below said latchbarpivot to pivot said latch-bar upwardly against gravity and of engagement with its keeper.

WALTER FRANCIS ROSEBURROUGH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references :are :ofFrecordfinzthe ":fiIE of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

